Cronulla and Melbourne joined forces to form a NSW Cup team a few years ago, which NAS played for.

For much of the 2015 NRL season, we have heard whispers about the future of Nelson Asofa-Solomona's future. The lad who was plucked out of Wellington 1st XV rugby by Melbourne Storm has had a huge year for the Storm, coming off the bench and giving them a healthy dose of go-forward along with some razzle dazzle courtesy of a massive frame that lends itself to offloads.

Other NRL clubs have noticed - you'd be blind not to - and after appearing to turn down an offer from New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes, NAS is still in hot demand from other NRL clubs. This has come with NAS not yet signing on with the Storm, which I kinda thought would happen when the rugby union noise went quiet. Last week in was reported that Manly, Cronulla and even the Warriors were keen to show NAS the dosh, which leaves us with a very interesting few weeks as we wait to see what NAS will do.

The demand and some free agency excitement stems from the fact that NAS is a gun. I've already written a fair bit about him and his ability smacks you in the face as he's capable of making a difference any time he steps out on to the field. We've seen how influential a big lad with mobility or skill can be, with Sam Kasiano's work for the Bulldogs a nice example as he's arguably been there best player. Kasiano is huge and makes plenty of metres when carting the ball forward, while also the owner of a slick pair of hands which enable him to throw all sorts of passes.

NAS is as big, but more athletic. His athleticism makes up for the skill that he lacks compared to Kasiano, with NAS light-footed for a forward of his size and equally as dangerous charging up the middle as he is lurking out a bit wider.

Melbourne would obviously love to snap up NAS and have him as a key cog of their forward pack in the coming years. While the Storm have Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith (oh and Billy Slater), it's their young brigade led by their kiwi forwards which has given the big-name players a new lease of life. With Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor, Dale Finucane and Felise Kaufusi, Melbourne have a nice mix of size, power, footwork and skill, which makes NAS the icing on the cake. With NAS in that forward pack for the next few years, the Storm will be a force until the retirement of Smith, Cronk and Slater ... perhaps even beyond.

Cronulla would be an interesting destination and the thought of NAS playing alongside Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, Wade Graham etc scares me.

Manly have a solid pack but lack a dominant forward, which NAS could be for them. They have Martin Taupau, Darcy Lussick and Nate Myles, they just need a behemoth who can offload to take them into the top-8.

The Warriors played the Cowboys on the weekend and it was clear that they lacked a forward who could do something similar to Jason Taumalolo. Obviously every team wants a Jason Taumalolo - duh - but the Warriors lack a powerful forward who has the athletic ability to make metres around the ruck. NAS would probably make the Warriors genuine top-4 team next season.

Point being that NAS would make any team he chooses for 2017, far better. Who knows where he'll sign, my preference for him to stay at Melbourne alongside his kiwi brothers and build a crazy kiwi forward pack in Melbourne is countered by the fact that NAS hasn't put pen to paper with the Storm just yet. That's not a good sign and the Storm will know that the longer NAS waits, the more they will probably have to pay as the other clubs are understandably throwing cash at NAS.

Then we have Benji Marshall, who also has signed anywhere for next season and his situation is far less enjoyable. Everything to do with the Dragons at the moment is a bit silly and has been for much of the season, which isn't ideal for Marshall as his form is reflecting that of his team and the pressure of the situation at St George is showing with everyone.

No one would say that Marshall has been playing his best footy and as he's in the shop window, that's less than ideal. Marshall has definitely been made a bit of a scapegoat however and that is strange for me as Marshall and Gareth Widdop (who's also struggling) have been playing behind a forward pack that simply can't match the majority of the NRL's forward packs. There's not a whole lot of power, size, footwork or skill in that Dragons forward pack and that means that their halves can't do their best work.

Not to mention that Marshall has had his contract saga played out in the media, thanks to his own role as a pundit on NRL 360. Demand for Marshall's services at the price he wants, is probably the complete opposite to that of NAS but the best thing for Marshall is that he gets as far away from the Dragons as possible. The Dragons clearly don't want a bar of Marshall and both parties are better off going down different paths.

Marshall's problem is that not too many clubs need a half like Marshall, most already have an established pair or an established half and some young talent. The Eels had been mentioned and a Marshall x Corey Norman combination could be interesting, Newcastle could need a half to partner Trent Hodkinson if they do take the strange step of kicking Jarrod Mullen to the curb while I wouldn't sleep on Melbourne making another play for Marshall - highly unlikely but hey, an option.

The key thing here is that Marshall is in no position to pick and chose, he's more than likely going to have to take the best offer. Just as I'm intrigued to see how the NAS situation plays out, I've also found myself wondering where Marshall will end up if he does stay in the NRL. The NAS free-agency situation is far more deserving of the hype as the ramifications are as big as NAS himself, while the Marshall situation isn't as important but funky.